How do you solve #-| 5| + | - 8| - 15#?

1 Answer
Ryuu
Sep 19, 2017

Take the absolute value of each term surrounded by an absolute value.

Explanation:

Solving an absolute value expression may seem complicated to many.

An absolute value is a magnitude of a number that can be expressed disregarding its sign (positive or negative/+ or -). Therefore, if you express an absolute value of #|-5|#, then it can be expressed as #5#, because you disregard the sign.

Knowing this, let's solve this expression.

#- |5| + |-8|-15#

Now, we have a negative sign, an absolute value of #5#. These stay the same. You then have a #+# followed by an absolute value of #|-8|#. An absolute value of #-8# is #8#. Finally, we have a #-15# (not absolute value).

We get this.

#=-5 + 8 - 15#

Now we just simplify.

#=-5 + 8 - 15#

#=-12#

Hope this helps :)

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